In the words of Savero, the Cavalry is unstoppable—and they proved exactly why. Since dropping their first loss of the tournament against the Falcons (2‑1), TLPH has soared even higher, going 8‑1 in their last four series, including a 2‑0 statement win against ONIC PH in the final week of MPL Philippines Season 17.
To secure the No. 1 seed, TLPH had to cool down a red‑hot ONIC squad riding a four‑series winning streak, which included 2‑1 victories over Aurora Gaming PH and the surging Omega. True to form, ONIC carried that momentum into the opening minutes of Game 1, striking first with a 4‑0 score advantage. Mid‑laner SuperFrince spearheaded the charge, securing all the kills.
TLPH Battles Back After Slow Start
The Cavalry, however, slowly but steadily worked their way back into the game. By the 10‑minute mark, although Brusko delivered a strong setup, TLPH managed to turn things around and eliminate three ONIC members, swinging the momentum heavily in their favor. Despite a few errors, TLPH was never truly threatened from that point onward, eventually securing Game 1. KarlTzy was named Player of the Game after finishing with a 4‑1‑2 KDA on Suyou.
TLPH Seizes Control
Game 2, however, was completely one‑sided. Team Liquid took full control from the start and never looked back, building a lead of as much as 14k gold while finishing with an 18‑2 kill advantage. Roamer Jaypee was undoubtedly the best player in Game 2, delivering a flawless performance on Marcel with a 2‑0‑10 KDA.
Despite being swept in both of their matches against TLPH this season, ONIC still had a solid run, finishing third in the league with a 9‑5 record despite losing superstar gold laner Kelra in the offseason. Team Liquid, on the other hand, automatically advanced to the Upper Bracket semifinals alongside the Falcons after finishing in the top two spots. They were also the only teams in the league with double‑digit wins.
